Remote operation of a motor control center subunit disconnect

Abstract

A system and method are provided for remotely actuating a subunit disconnect in a motor control center subunit. A motor control center subunit includes a subunit housing configured to fit within a motor control center and a subunit disconnect configured to selectively control a supply power to motor control components of the subunit housing. A control mechanism is attached to the subunit housing to activate and deactivate the subunit disconnect and a remote control device communicates with the control mechanism and is configured to operate the control mechanism to activate and deactivate the subunit disconnect.

1. A motor control center subunit comprising:
 a subunit housing configured to fit within a motor control center, the subunit housing including a dead front panel having a line contact actuator assembly thereon, with the line contact actuator assembly having anchor points formed therein; 
 a subunit disconnect configured to selectively control a supply power to motor control components of the subunit housing; 
 a control mechanism attached to the subunit housing to activate and deactivate the subunit disconnect, the control mechanism comprising a plurality of mounting knobs configured to threadingly engage the anchor points on the line contact actuator assembly to secure the control mechanism to the subunit housing; and 
 a remote control device configured to operate the control mechanism to activate and deactivate the subunit disconnect. 
 
     
     
       2. The motor control center subunit of  claim 1  further comprising a disconnect handle attached to the subunit housing and constructed to activate and deactivate the subunit disconnect. 
     
     
       3. The motor control center subunit of  claim 2  wherein the control mechanism comprises an electronic motor drive configured to actuate the disconnect handle. 
     
     
       4. The motor control center subunit of  claim 3  wherein the control mechanism further comprises a linkage system connected to an output of the motor drive at a first end thereof and secured to the disconnect handle at a second end thereof, the linkage system effecting rotation of the disconnect handle in both of a clockwise and counterclockwise direction. 
     
     
       5. The motor control center subunit of  claim 3  wherein the control mechanism further comprises:
 a screw drive attached to the electronic motor drive; 
 a forked connector linearly translated by the screw drive and configured to actuate the disconnect handle between an activation position and a deactivation position; and 
 a freewheeling mechanism attached to the screw drive and configured to allow the screw drive to free-wheel therein when the disconnect handle is at the activation position and the deactivation position. 
 
     
     
       6. The motor control center subunit of  claim 2  wherein the control mechanism comprises one of a pneumatic cylinder actuator and a spring-charged actuator to actuate the disconnect handle. 
     
     
       7. The motor control center subunit of  claim 1  further comprising a line contact motor drive in operable association with a plurality of conductive contacts within the subunit housing to move the plurality of conductive contacts between a retracted position and an extended position; and
 wherein the remote control device is configured to operate the line contact motor drive via wireless signals. 
 
     
     
       8. The motor control center subunit of  claim 1  wherein the control mechanism further comprises a receiver configured to receive wireless signals from the remote control device. 
     
     
       9. The motor control center subunit of  claim 1  wherein the control mechanism further comprises a sensing device configured to deactivate the control mechanism when an object is sensed within a pre-defined distance thereof. 
     
     
       10. The motor control center subunit of  claim 1  wherein the remote control device comprises a pendant station connected to the control mechanism via a communication cable. 
     
     
       11. The motor control center subunit of  claim 1  wherein the subunit disconnect comprises one of a circuit breaker assembly and a fused disconnect. 
     
     
       12. A remotely controlled actuation mechanism for actuating a circuit breaker disconnect handle comprising:
 a housing; 
 an electric motor positioned within the housing and configured to generate an output torque; 
 an adapter coupled to the electric motor and to a disconnect handle of a circuit breaker assembly, the adapter configured to transfer the output torque to the disconnect handle so as to translate the disconnect handle between a first position and a second position; 
 a remote control configured to send control signals to the electric motor from a remote location so as to activate the electric motor to translate the disconnect handle; 
 a display comprising a plurality of indicators thereon, the plurality of indicators configured to indicate a status of the circuit breaker assembly; and 
 a plurality of fastening knobs attached to the housing and configured to threadingly fasten the actuation mechanism to a front panel of a motor control center subunit having a line contact actuator assembly thereon, wherein the plurality of fastening knobs threadingly engage anchor points on the line contact actuator assembly to secure the remotely controlled actuation mechanism to the front panel of the motor control center subunit. 
 
     
     
       13. The actuation mechanism of  claim 12  further comprising a receiver electrically connected to the electric motor and configured to receive wireless control signals from the remote control so as to control activation of the electric motor. 
     
     
       14. The actuation mechanism of  claim 12  wherein the disconnect handle comprises a handle rotatable in a plane parallel to the front panel. 
     
     
       15. The actuation mechanism of  claim 14  wherein the adapter comprises a linkage system connected to an output of the electric motor at a first end thereof and secured to the disconnect handle at a second end thereof, the linkage system effecting rotation of the disconnect handle in both of a clockwise and counterclockwise direction. 
     
     
       16. The actuation mechanism of  claim 12  wherein the disconnect handle comprises a lever vertically translatable in a plane perpendicular to the front panel. 
     
     
       17. The actuation mechanism of  claim 16  wherein the adapter comprises
 a screw drive attached to the electric motor; 
 a forked connector linearly translated by the screw drive and configured to actuate the disconnect handle between an activation position and a deactivation position; and 
 a freewheeling mechanism attached to the screw drive and configured to allow the screw drive to free-wheel therein when the disconnect handle is at the activation position and the deactivation position. 
 
     
     
       18. A motor control center comprising:
 a motor control center frame having at least one compartment; 
 a motor control center subunit constructed to seat in the at least one compartment of the motor control center frame; 
 a circuit breaker assembly configured to selectively control a supply power to the motor control center subunit; 
 a disconnect handle attached to a housing of the motor control center subunit and constructed to open and close the circuit breaker assembly to selectively control the supply power to the motor control center subunit; and 
 a remotely controlled actuating mechanism to actuate the disconnect handle and remotely control at least one of the opening and closing of the circuit breaker assembly, the remotely controlled actuating mechanism including a display having a plurality of indicators thereon, the plurality of indicators configured to indicate a status of the circuit breaker assembly, a power state of the remotely controlled actuating mechanism, and an engagement status of a plurality of supply power stabs in the motor control center subunit to a power supply; 
 wherein the housing of the motor control center subunit includes a dead front panel having a line contact actuator assembly thereon, the line contact actuator assembly having anchor points formed therein; and 
 wherein the actuating mechanism further comprises a plurality of mounting knobs configured to threadingly engage the anchor points on the line contact actuator assembly to secure the actuating mechanism to the housing of the motor control center subunit. 
 
     
     
       19. The motor control center of  claim 18  further comprising a remote control device configured to operate the actuating mechanism from a remote location outside an arc flash zone of the motor control center. 
     
     
       20. The motor control center of  claim 19  wherein the remote control device communicates with the actuating mechanism via a wireless communication protocol. 
     
     
       21. The motor control center of  claim 18  wherein the actuating mechanism comprises:
 an outer housing; 
 an electric motor positioned within the outer housing and configured to generate a torque sufficient to rotate the disconnect handle; and 
 a mechanized actuator arm connected to the electric motor and to the disconnect handle and configured to transmit the torque from the electric motor to the disconnect handle. 
 
     
     
       22. The motor control center of  claim 18  wherein the actuating mechanism comprises:
 a screw drive attached to the motor drive and configured to linearly translate the disconnect handle between an activation position and a deactivation position; 
 a freewheeling mechanism attached to the screw drive and configured to allow the screw drive to free-wheel therein when the disconnect handle is at the activation position and the deactivation position.